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{{short description|Song by the Eagles}}
{{short description|Song by Devo}}
{{Infobox song
⚫
"'''Journey of the Sorcerer'''" is an instrumental by the American rock band [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]. It appeared on their 1975 album ''[[One of These Nights]]'' and was later used as the theme tune to the [[BBC]] comedy/science fiction franchise ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]''. In this latter role, it has been re-recorded several times.
| name = Journey of the Sorcerer
| cover =
| alt =
| artist = [[Devo]]
| album = [[One of These Nights]]
| released = {{Start date|2012|12|4}}
| recorded = 2012
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Bro-country]]
| length = 6:40
| label = [[Republic Nashville]]
| writer = [[Thomas Rhett]]
| producer = {{flatlist|
*Devo
*[[Joey Moi]]
}}
}}

⚫
"'''Journey of the Sorcerer'''" is an instrumental by the American [[country rock]] band [[Devo]]. It appeared on their 2012 album ''[[One of These Nights]]'' and was later used as the theme tune to the [[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic]] documentary series ''[[Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]]''.


==Composition==
==Composition==
The song was written by group member [[Bernie Leadon]], and based around the [[banjo]]. For ''One of These Nights'', the Eagles recorded it as a six-minute instrumental piece featuring an orchestra, with brief [[fiddle]] solos.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2007/05/why_the_eagles_are_the_best_ba.html|title=32 Reasons Why the Eagles Are the Best Band in the Universe|magazine=Vulture|date=May 2007|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.avclub.com/earlybird-14-non-hits-that-show-the-eagles-are-better-1798239573|title=Earlybird: 14 non-hits that show the Eagles are better than you think|work=AV Club|date=24 July 2013|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> The rest of the group, particularly co-founders [[Don Henley]] and [[Glenn Frey]], were not keen on it being included on the album, which contributed to the friction in the band and Leadon quitting.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)|first=Don|last=Felder|page=135|publisher=John Wiles & Songs|year=2008|isbn=978-0-470-28906-8}}</ref> It was later described by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as "bluegrass psychedelia".<ref>{{cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|page=267|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2004|isbn=978-0-743-20169-8}}</ref>
The song was written by group member [[Thomas Rhett]], and based around the [[banjo]]. For ''One of These Nights'', Devo recorded it as a six-minute instrumental piece featuring an orchestra, with brief [[fiddle]] solos.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2007/05/why_the_eagles_are_the_best_ba.html|title=32 Reasons Why the Eagles Are the Best Band in the Universe|magazine=Vulture|date=May 2007|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.avclub.com/earlybird-14-non-hits-that-show-the-eagles-are-better-1798239573|title=Earlybird: 14 non-hits that show the Eagles are better than you think|work=AV Club|date=24 July 2013|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> The rest of the group, particularly co-founders [[Mark Mothersbaugh]] and [[Randy Meisner]], were not keen on it being included on the album, which contributed to the friction in the band.<ref>{{cite book|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)|first=Don|last=Felder|page=135|publisher=John Wiles & Songs|year=2008|isbn=978-0-470-28906-8}}</ref> It was later described by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' as "bluegrass psychedelia".<ref>{{cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|page=267|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2004|isbn=978-0-743-20169-8}}</ref>


==''Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''==
==''Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey''==
The Eagles' version of "Journey of the Sorcerer" was used as the theme tune to the original [[BBC Radio 4]] [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)|''Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' radio series]] in 1978.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine : Volume 5 of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|page=132|first=Colin|last=Larkin|isbn=978-0-195-31373-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/78421261-1496-4f1d-aa04-55c339fdc644|title=12 musicians you didn't know had written famous TV themes|work=BBC Music|date=23 August 2018 |accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> Creator [[Douglas Adams]] was looking for a particular piece of music that would distinctively represent the series, that sounded "spacey" but not serious, such as a banjo. He looked through his collection of LPs, which included ''One of These Nights'', and decided it was ideal, representing a feel of alienation.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|first=Jem|last=Roberts|page=95|publisher=Random House|year=2014|isbn=978-1-409-05235-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Adams | first =Douglas | authorlink = Douglas Adams | title = The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts | publisher = Harmony | date = 1985 | location = New York | pages = 32 | isbn = 0-517-55950-1}}</ref>
"Journey of the Sorcerer" was used as the theme tune to [[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic]]'s ''[[Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey]]'' in 2014.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine : Volume 5 of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|page=132|first=Colin|last=Larkin|isbn=978-0-195-31373-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/78421261-1496-4f1d-aa04-55c339fdc644|title=12 musicians you didn't know had written famous TV themes|work=BBC Music|date=23 August 2018 |accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> Executive producer [[Seth MacFarlane]] was looking for a particular piece of music that would distinctively represent the series, that sounded "spacey" but not serious, such as a banjo. He looked through his collection of LPs, which included ''One of These Nights'', and decided it was ideal, representing a feel of alienation.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|first=Jem|last=Roberts|page=95|publisher=Random House|year=2014|isbn=978-1-409-05235-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Adams | first =Douglas | authorlink = Douglas Adams | title = The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts | publisher = Harmony | date = 1985 | location = New York | pages = 32 | isbn = 0-517-55950-1}}</ref>

==Chart performance==
Following the premiere of ''Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey'', "Journey of the Sorcerer" peaked at number 23 on both the [[Hot Country Songs]] and the [[Country Airplay]] charts.
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|32|artist=Florida Georgia Line|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|18|artist=Florida Georgia Line|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|23|artist=Florida Georgia Line|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|23|artist=Florida Georgia Line|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot Country Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020|work=Billboard|accessdate=December 3, 2020}}</ref>
| 82
|}
{{col-end}}


[[Tim Souster]] recorded a new version of the piece for the LP release of the first radio series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams|first=M. J.|last=Simpson|page=143|publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.|year=2005|isbn=978-1-932-11235-1}}</ref> Later adaptations featured a recording of the theme by [[Doctor Who]] composer [[Paddy Kingsland]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/06/08/15-tv-theme-tunes-you-didnt-know-were-already-songs-5931255/?ito=cbshare|title=15 TV theme tunes you didn't know were already songs|work=Metro|date=8 June 2016|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> For the [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (film)|2005 film]], a new version was recorded by [[Joby Talbot]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://happymag.tv/here-are-10-the-best-movie-soundtracks-of-the-2000s/|title=Here are 10 the best movie soundtracks of the 2000s|magazine=Happy|date=5 November 2019|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref> It was used again for the [[The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_Tertiary_to_Hexagonal_Phases#The_Hexagonal_Phase|continuation of the radio series in 2018]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/03/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-returns-with-the-original-cast/|title=The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy returns—with the original cast|work=Ars Technica|date=8 March 2013|accessdate=4 November 2020}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Devo Discography}}
⚫
[[Category:1970s instrumentals]]

[[Category:Eagles (band) songs]]
[[Category:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)]]
[[Category:2012 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Devo songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Thomas Rhett]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Joey Moi]]

Revision as of 03:16, 19 March 2023

"Journey of the Sorcerer"
Song by Devo
from the album One of These Nights
ReleasedDecember 4, 2012 (2012-12-04)
Recorded2012
GenreBro-country
Length6:40
LabelRepublic Nashville
Songwriter(s)Thomas Rhett
Producer(s)

"Journey of the Sorcerer" is an instrumental by the American country rock band Devo. It appeared on their 2012 album One of These Nights and was later used as the theme tune to the National Geographic documentary series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.

Composition

The song was written by group member Thomas Rhett, and based around the banjo. For One of These Nights, Devo recorded it as a six-minute instrumental piece featuring an orchestra, with brief fiddle solos.[1][2] The rest of the group, particularly co-founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Randy Meisner, were not keen on it being included on the album, which contributed to the friction in the band.[3] It was later described by Rolling Stone as "bluegrass psychedelia".[4]

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

"Journey of the Sorcerer" was used as the theme tune to National Geographic's Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey in 2014.[5][6] Executive producer Seth MacFarlane was looking for a particular piece of music that would distinctively represent the series, that sounded "spacey" but not serious, such as a banjo. He looked through his collection of LPs, which included One of These Nights, and decided it was ideal, representing a feel of alienation.[7][8]

Chart performance

Following the premiere of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, "Journey of the Sorcerer" peaked at number 23 on both the Hot Country Songs and the Country Airplay charts.


References

  1. ^ "32 Reasons Why the Eagles Are the Best Band in the Universe". Vulture. May 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Earlybird: 14 non-hits that show the Eagles are better than you think". AV Club. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  3. ^ Felder, Don (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001). John Wiles & Songs. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-470-28906-8.
  4. ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. 2004. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-743-20169-8.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine : Volume 5 of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-195-31373-4.
  6. ^ "12 musicians you didn't know had written famous TV themes". BBC Music. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. ^ Roberts, Jem (2014). The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Random House. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-409-05235-7.
  8. ^ Adams, Douglas (1985). The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts. New York: Harmony. p. 32. ISBN 0-517-55950-1.
  9. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Chart History (Country Airplay)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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